COUNTERCULTURE
Many young Americans in the 1960's sought to reform the system, others rejected it entirely and tried to create a new lifestyle based on communal living. They created what became known as the counterculter and were commonly called "hippies". Originally, hippies rejected rationality order and tradtional middle-class values. They wanted to build a utopia- a society that was freer, closer to nature, and full of love, empathy, tolerance and cooperation. Much of this was a reaction to the 1950's stereotype of the white-collar man in the gray flannel suit who led a constricted and colorless life. As the counterculture grew many newcomers did not understand these ideas. For them, what mattered were the outward signs that defined the movement. Long hair. Native American headbands, cowboy boots, long dresses, shabby jeans, and the use of drugs. Many hippies wanted to drop out of society by leaving home and living together in communes. One common site for hippies was San Fran's Haight-Ashbury district. By mid 1960's thousands of hippies had flocked there. After a few years the counterculture movement began to decline as those youth grew up and older. Although hippies never reached their goal of utopian ideals, did change some aspects of American culture.
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